Bioshock Infinite : First Look at Steampunk Heaven

Updated on October 21, 2016

Rapture

Underwater Utopia of the Past

I crashed my plane in the Atlantic Ocean , back in 1960, swam desperately
through the flaming wreckage and climbed onboard a strange lighthouse island. I
was welcomed by a Ryan Industries poster and took a rickety bathysphere down to
Rapture, the underwater utopian vision of millionaire Industrialist Andrew Ryan.

Minutes after my arrival, I was confronted by the nightmare
dystopia of a vision gone wrong. Armed with plasmids that reprogrammed by genes
I fought wandering zombies, hulking metal monsters, crazed scientists and
fought moral dilemma over what to do with the little sisters. Until, ultimately,
I confronted the megalomaniac who dreamt this dream and had watched it turn
into a nightmare.

Bisohock 1&2

I was hooked. The art deco vision of 1920s, the scratchily
magnificent vinyl music, the sober tones of the leader streamed through tinny
audio, genetically enhanced enemies that scared the life out of me, the U- Invent vending
machines and robotic cam/guns that I could hack, the drill-armed Big Daddies
that clomped scarily towards me all made Bioschock the game I wish would never
end.

It’s no wonder it is rated the third best PC game of all
time at Game rankings. Immersive, innovative and incredible, Bioshock captivated millions of fans and sold out
across all formats.

The dystopian vision was created and masterminded by Ken
Levine with a script heavily influenced by Ayn Rand’s works such as Atlas
Shrugged and the Fountainhead. ( The character
Andrew Ryan is a partial anagram of Ayn Rand).

A sequel, Bioschock 2, offered more of the same and took us
back to Rapture last year.

For our next adventure in the Bioshock Franchise, we are not
going underwater but flying into Steampunk Heaven.

A City in the Sky

Bioshock:Infinity, takes a leap back in time to 1912.

Set in a airborne city of Columbia, it is a vision of zeppelins
and dirigibles, sky hooks and metal chambers suspended in mid air. Created by
the United States government as a vision of the future, the airborne city of ‘Columbia’
was floated to much fanfare to mark the dominance of Uncle Sam at the 1893 world
fair. Its citizens were pioneers launching into the new world of airborne
living.

City in the Sky

In Game Poster Art

In Game Poster Art

In Game Poster Art

Dystopia

Columbia is soon revealed to the international community as a battleship. The US Government disowns
Columbia to avoid any diplomatic scandal. Cut loose by the very nation that
launched them the c the disillusioned citizens form ‘Vox Populi’ (Voice of the
people) and decide to revolt against the powers that control the city, the
ruling class.

The ruling class exhibits and promotes Xenophobia, Ethnic
cleansing, Eugenics and racial purification to a shocking degree misreading the constitution and exhibiting the short sightedness and prejudices of isolated communities that believe their vision is pure.

With weapons all around, the civil war drives each faction
to fight an increasingly cruel battle between the factions, driven by hatred
and despair. The utopian vision has yet again, become a dystopian nightmare.

As years go the Government and the people of US would rather
forget this failed experiment and pretend that it never happened as miles above
their heads, the war rages on in this cloud construct.

Bioshock- Infinity once again marries steam punk tradition
with a vision of alternate history. It is a commentary on power and politics,
race and discrimination. It has the flavour of Ayn Rand’s works and George Orwell’s
1984 infused with Jules Verne and HG wells.

In game billboard

Rescue Mission or Descent into Oblivion?

A disgraced Pinkerton’s agent Booker Mcdewitt is hired by
persons unknown who seem to know the location of the disgraced cloud City of
Columbia. He is tasked to travel secretly there in order to rescue a girl
called Elizabeth, held captive in the city of Columbia.

Finding Elizabeth is the easy bit, as it soon emerges that
there is something about her that is central to the civil war raging inside the
cloud city. Fighting his way through the increasingly manic rage filled denizens,
facing up to genetically enhanced monsters and slipping between floating platforms,
Booker must uncover the secrets that creep under the dystopian drama. Will he
escape with life unscathed and more importantly will be able to bring Elizabeth
back to those that hired him?

Threatened by hulking half-man half metal monsters, chased everywhere through the fire ravaged city by xenophobic citizens, and aided by Elizabeth's mysterious powers, Booker sees his life spiral out of control as mystery and intrigue deepen.

Teaser Trailer

Elizabeth

Sniper Scope

floating platforms

Rollercoaster Ride

From the trailer and gameplay footage it is clear that the method of navigation
between the floating platforms and structures is the Skyline that criss-crosses
Columbia. Using a wrist mounted device we can jump onto the rail and navigate by
what feels like one roller coaster ride after another. The enemies have the
same capability so we can’t run far.

Elizabeth has her own powers and will aid
Booker in his quest to escape she seems to geenrate rainstorms and exhibit telekinetic abilities. Booker drinks plasmid type enhancements that give him electricity bolt ability ( like Infamous) and telekinesis too. There is something called the 'murder of crows' that unleashes bloodthirsty crows onto a crowd of pursuers.

The developers Irrational Games promise new
weapons and enhancements while retaining the first person shooter and puzzle
solving aspects that made the first two games such a delight.

A murder of Crows 'vigor'

Xenophobic preacher

Teasers Promotions

Set to be released early 2012, the game has been in development
for over 3 years ( simultaneously conceived during Bioshock 2). It was
originally called ‘project Icarus’, gradually unveiling the current title ,
Bioshock :Infinity. Even though it shares the name and the steam punk vision of
the other two games it looks like an entirely new direction away from the dark underwater
confines of Bioshock 1&2.

The Web is abuzz with so many first-look images, trailers
and the fans are beside themselves with excitement at the concept arts and game
play clips. The glorious visuals, the bright sunny backdrop of the sky city and
the new mechanics are all very exciting to look at.

Bioshock Infinite special preview from October 2010

Game Informer 'vintage' look teaser

The Game informer magazine collaborated with Irrational Games and came up with a special ‘firt-look’ edition in October 200. The look of the magazine was akin to early 20th century Saturday Evening Post and featured beautifully rendered art and visuals from the game inspired by the art and posters of that era.

Can't wait

I don’t mind being continually teased by the in game snaps
and gameplay footage but to wait a whole year for this game is a crime. I am
sure this wait means further polish on visuals and gameplay ensuring an
unforgettable experience worth waiting for.

With the rumoured Bioschock film stalled in development hell ( it was to be directed by Gore Verbinksi
of Pirate’s fame) Bioshock Infinity will the be adequate consolation for fans of the series.

Don’t Miss Bioschock:Infinity!

Battleship in the Sky

The new 'Big' Daddy

City in the Sky Trailer

Comments 1 comment

I am a huge fan of the Bioshock series!! I love this hub ^_^ Ah... I can't wait to play this!!! ^_^ Love all the snap shots and teasers too. Thank you for compiling them all here and adding fantastic writing to go with them. Voting and sharing!

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